Funny thing is that they are about the third place to offer this kind of tour package, there was a buzz about this last year as well.

I supposed there's any number of rich bitches who want to go to Burning Man and after reading about being a participant, not a specatator and radical self reliance said "oh these sound like real hippies, I'd love to be 'down' with that, but it sounds a little rough. Honey, where's my credit card?"

I really want to this to be a memorable first burning man experience and i heard that there are camps that provide all for you..Sorry

Two words come to mind.

'Entitlement' and 'spectator.'

The perception that there are cushy camps available to those who seek them suggests (to me) a transitioning from the idiom of self-sufficiency to pampered, consumerist spectator. I think this is the slippery slope so many have alluded to over the past few years.

When people are invested more in seeing the spectacle than being the spectacle is when some people start jumping the shark. Annectodotally this is what I'm starting to see. That may not translate into numbers just yet but my gut tells me that overwhelmingly those who elect not to return do so because of the frustration and mild contempt they hold towards people holding such perceptions. There's just not much to be gained from being partially surrounded by folks who expect to have their asses washed just because they can afford it.

Captain Goddammit wrote:IF you're for real... I don't know where you got that idea, it goes against everything playa living is about. The whole point is that NOTHING is provided, you take care of your own needs.I live very "cushy" on the playa, I keep the A/C in my camper on at all times, I cruise in a mutant vehicle, I take a nice hot shower at least once a day, etc. because I like it that way and I bring all my own shit to make it happen.You can do that for yourself too if you want it like that. Expecting anyone else to provide it doesn't fly, it's so un-burner that so far no one even believes you're for real.

I take a slightly different philosophy. I live in Reno so it's "easier" for me to get back and forth to the playa. I bring a mutant vehicle, tons of extra water, about 40-50lbs of carne asada, and even open up a bar to my fellow burners.

That said, the instant I get a person or group that is ungrateful and acts like this is something that is owed to them, my generosity ends.

On the other hand, I am seeing more and more people that are less motivated to share with others. All their resources are spent on making themselves more comfortable and using their big mobile accommodations to enclose their camps to shield their buddies from the lower class dregs on the outside.

I think this is already happening. In talking with various DJs, many that I spoke to get their food/bm ticket/camp fees/ and even travel expenses paid by big camps to come spin.

Many artists are getting corporate sponsorships to make the art they make on playa. One artist offered to build some art for my camp which i thought was sweet and than asked for $11k for his 'living expenses' for a few months and told me many 'camps' were totally willing to pay that to have his art. I was like WTF?? I bust my ass to make art as a GIFT for the burn. But this is reality and I think is getting more and more common as the burning man commercial economy booms. It's unfortunate but that is what I've seen.

Many artists also get 'sponsored' to make pieces of art if that means.. comped meal plans/camp dues and materials supplied by pooled resources, etc.

In some of these cases I think it is good to honor and love one's artists. Some people do contribute more than others. In other cases, i dont like the continuation separation of the 'burners'/creators and the partiers'/spectators.

We were discussing renting an RV next year. But guess who will probably pay the bulk of the tab? A couple of carefully erected car ports with a team that gets together with all the bells and whistles. That's all you need.